Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory preview
Arguable the strongest rivalry in the A-League clashes again tonight when Adelaide United host Melbourne Victory.
The Victory will be hoping for revenge after the Reds ended a ten-game losing streak in this fixture with a 4-1 win at AAMI Park in early January.
That loss was the last experienced by Melbourne who have hit back with a five-match unbeaten run, winning their past three matches without conceding a goal.
Ernie Merrick has plenty of depth with Archie Thompson, Carlos Hernandez and Surat Sukha all likely to start on the bench as the southern visitors strive to take all point back home with them from the Adelaide Oval.
In the Reds camp, Rini Coolen has a few slight issues with left-back Cassio out with a thigh injury as well as a three match winless streak.
However, they love their 'home away from home' and will be expecting a big crowd as they hope to keep third place on the table ahead of finals.
But I sense the Victory are right up for this one and will come to town with a strong mental attitude as they will want to restore their pride after the debacle of the last encounter.
Verdict: Victory 2-1
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory Date: Friday, 11 February 2011 Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Local kick-off: 7:30pm (8.00pm AEDT) Referee: Ryan Shepheard Match fact: A win by Adelaide United would secure third place for the Reds, meaning that the bottom three teams from last season's Hyundai A-League ladder (Adelaide, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners) would be the top three teams on this season's final ladder - a scenario that has never come close to happening before in Australian national league history.
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is ABC Digital Adelaide, 774 ABC (Melbourne), SEN. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 11.Andy SLORY, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Dario BODRUSIC, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Francisco USUCAR *one to be omitted* In: Robert CORNTHWAITE (returns from injury), Lucas PANTELIS (promoted), Mathew LECKIE (promoted) Out: CASSIO (thigh - 1 week), Osama MALIK (hamstring - 1 week) Unavailable: Daniel MULLEN (knee - season), Joe COSTA (knee - season), Joe KEENAN (leg - season), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle - season)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 3. Mate DUGANDZIC, 4. Petar FRANJIC, 5. Surat SUKHA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Matthew KEMP, 9. RICARDINHO, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 11. Marvin ANGULO, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 13. Diogo FERREIRA, 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 16. Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17. Matthew FOSCHINI, 18. Danny ALLSOPP, 20. Sebastian MATTEI (gk), 21. Robbie KRUSE, 23. Adrian LEIJER (c) *three to be omitted* In: Leigh BROXHAM (returns from injury), Archie THOMPSON, Surat SUKHA, Carlos HERNANDEZ Out: Luke PILKINGTON Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (suspension), Billy CELESKI (injured), Grant BREBNER (injured).
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